Virat Kohli (L), Mayank Agarwal (R) play pickleball after rain disrupts RCB's practice session. (Source: RCB/X)
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on May 23. RCB have qualified for the playoffs, but they'll look to win the game and get closer to the top two finish. The match was set to be played at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, but was moved to Lucknow due to adverse weather conditions.
Meanwhile, RCB players, including Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, and Liam Livingstone, among others, enjoyed pickleball after rain disrupted their practice session. Pickleball's popularity has seen a sharp rise in the last few years in India due to its accessibility to people of all ages.
How Can RCB Ensure a Top Two Finish?
Gujarat Titans (GT), RCB, and Punjab Kings (PBKS) have qualified for the playoffs, and all have a fair chance of finishing inside top two. GT have nine wins and 19 points in 12 matches, and if they win their remaining two games, they'll book a top two finish. RCB and PBKS are tied on 17 points, and both can reach a maximum of 21 points if they win the final two games. In that case, the team with a better run rate will go through Qualifier 1. RCB's best bet to qualify as one of the top two teams is to win both games and hope that PBKS or GT lose a game.
RCB Eye Maiden Title
RCB have done the hard work, but the job is not done yet. RCB is yet to win an IPL trophy despite making it to the final three times. They'll be under pressure to win the trophy this year, having got so close. At times, the added pressure does not work in a team's favour, but the good news is that this season has not been about Virat Kohli or RCB's batting. The team has performed well as a unit, with the batters and bowlers firing in unison.
